oil additives GMC SONOMA 2004 Owner's Manual

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-28
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-35
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36
Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-41
Rear Axle.......................................................5-46
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps..................................................5-49
One-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps................5-51
Two-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps................5-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-52
Taillamps.....................................................5-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-54
Tires..............................................................5-57
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-69
Buying New Tires.........................................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-72
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations. General
Motors recommends that you buy gasolines that
are advertised to help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean. If your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, try a different brand of
gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the specifications described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT. General
Motors does not recommend the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark
plugs and the performance of the emission control
system may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6

Notice:Use only engine oil identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American
Petroleum Institute Certied For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
®oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM6094M are all you will need for good performance
and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short trip/city
maintenance schedule:
•Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
•Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
•You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top
of your vehicle.
•The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner. If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months — whichever
occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/highway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months — whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions will cause engine oil to
break down slower.
5-16

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which won’t damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-24

Driving (cont.)
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-36
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-29
Winter........................................................4-38
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-22
Driving Downhill..............................................4-21
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-25
Driving in Water..............................................4-26
Driving On Grades..........................................4-62
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-18
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-39
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-31
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-31
Driving Uphill..................................................4-19
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-60
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-94
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Headlamps.................................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-95
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-95
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs.................................3-31Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-40
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-29
Coolant......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater............................................2-19
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-28
Cooling System Inspection............................6-30
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-35
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Fan Noise..................................................5-35
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-26
Starting......................................................2-18
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-98
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-25
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-25
Engine Speed Control.....................................2-19
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Environmental Concerns..................................4-15
Event Data Records (EDR)................................ 7-9
Exit Lighting...................................................3-15
Express Down Window....................................2-13
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-26
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-11
5

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station...............3-52
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).................................3-42, 3-63
Finding a Station....................3-37, 3-40, 3-50, 3-61
Finish Care....................................................5-90
Finish Damage...............................................5-92
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-76
Flash-to-Pass Feature....................................... 3-7
Flat Tire........................................................5-74
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-75
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM Stereo.....................................................3-74
Fog Lamps....................................................3-14
Following Distance..........................................4-61
Footnotes................................................6-7, 6-17
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-22, 5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Front Map Lamps...........................................3-15
Front Storage Area.........................................2-40Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-34
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-35
System Inspection.......................................6-30
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-95
G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..........................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-28
Fuel..........................................................3-34
Oil Pressure...............................................3-32
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-26
Garment Hooks..............................................2-40
6